Fox breached code

An official report into former UK defence secretary Liam Fox's links with his self-styled adviser Adam Werritty is expected to find that he breached the Ministerial Code of Conduct, it was revealed here Tuesday.The findings of Cabinet Secretary Sir Gus O'Donnell - who is believed to have delivered his report to Prime Minister David Cameron - was being published today.The Guardian newspaper reported the country's most senior civil servant will deliver a "damning" verdict on Dr Fox's conduct - while accepting that he had not personally gained financially from his relationship with Werritty.Dr Fox finally resigned on Friday amid a welter of allegations suggesting his close contacts with his best man and former flatmate breached Whitehall rules.Sir Gus was ordered by the Prime Minister to take over an internal Ministry of Defence inquiry in an effort to provide answers to "all remaining questions".An interim Ministry of Defence (MoD) report has already established that the then defence secretary had met Werritty - who handed out business cards describing himself as Dr Fox's adviser even though he had no official role - 40 times since coming to office.Their contacts included trips abroad and meetings at the MoD - including talks with the Israeli ambassador, dinner with the new US commander of international forces in Afghanistan, and a meeting in Dubai with a defence supplier without MoD officials present.Dr Fox finally stood down after it was disclosed how Werritty's globe-trotting lifestyle was bankrolled by a not-for-profit company funded by wealthy right wing supporters of Dr Fox, some with links to the defence industry.One of the backers, venture capitalist Jon Moulton, later disclosed that Dr Fox had approached him personally for a donation saying the company, Pargav, was involved in "security policy analysis and research".Sir Gus is not expected to make recommendations on ministers' contacts with lobbyists, as his remit was limited to establishing the facts about Werritty's activities.Downing Street has not said whether the report will be published in full or whether some details will have to be redacted, although officials have indicated that they intend to be as open as possible.We will be transparent about this," the Prime Minister's official spokesman said."We have asked Gus O'Donnell to establish the facts and we will be clear about what those facts are."Gus has not been asked to make recommendations. He has been asked to establish the facts and that's what he will do." Downing Street will hope that Sir Gus's report will draw a line under the affair for the Government, although it may not be the end of the matter for Dr Fox.The Electoral Commission is considering a complaint that Dr Fox breached the law on political donations while the Parliamentary Standards Commissioner has been asked to look into claims he let Werritty live rent-free in, and run a business from, a taxpayer-funded property.In addition, Labour MP John Mann has asked the City of London Police to investigate whether Werritty committed fraud by representing himself as Dr Fox's adviser.